Blackbird Simulations releases A6M5 Zero for MSFS2024

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It’s one of those aircraft of legend and Blackbird Simulations have just incorporated their rendition of it as part of a new aircraft release for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Let’s have a look!

New warbird now for MSFS 2024

Blackbird Simulation’s latest warbird release is the A6M5 Model 52 Zero. This version of the “Zero” came later in the war and is a good stablemate for the FG-1D Corsair that the company produced previously.

Blackbird report that the aircraft has accurate flight and engine systems with true-to-life fuel and electrical modeling. Performance is reportedly tuned and matched to real world historical references and published documents. The aircraft has custom wear and failure simulation, a custom start simulation, detailed 3D model, custom sound simulation, and visual effects for smoke and exhaust.

The aircraft does have a custom weapons simulation as well though the experience is limited as the weapons do not have an impact in the simulated environment. Its also only available this way from the Blackbird Simulations site and the Marketplace version will not be able to fire its guns.

The Blackbird Simulations A6M5 Zero is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for $24.99 USD.

9 responses to “Blackbird Simulations releases A6M5 Zero for MSFS2024”

  1. PaperPilot Avatar
    PaperPilot

    I’m going to be the first to say it on this page. We need a full fidelity A6M5 for DCS. The Marianas WWII map screams for it! But I do appreciate the fact that finding the information to make a full fidelity Zero, or any Japanese aircraft will be nothing short of difficult.

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    1. Gretsch_Man Avatar
      Gretsch_Man

      I was just about saying the exact same thing!

      Sooo, if Blackbird Simulations can make a Zero for MSFS, someone should also be able to make one for DCS, at least that’s what I’m hoping for.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. PaperPilot Avatar
        PaperPilot

        A Japanese fighter is needed to challenge and complement the F4U-1.

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      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        Unfortunately doesn’t work that way. DCS aircraft essentially need to be created from scratch with their own systems and dynamics created more or less from the ground up plus some APIs to hook into some key systems. MSFS aircraft have a much more robust architecture to build around and then they can customize where they want to. MSFS aircraft also don’t have to worry about damage models and that sort of thing.

        FlyingIron Simulations did a good breakdown of the challenges involved with making aircraft for DCS vs MSFS back a few years ago in one of their dev blogs. Its why they have several MSFS airplanes now and are still developing a single A-7 for DCS.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      You’d have to go back several years to be first on that 😉

      Blackbird and a lot of these other developers don’t develop for DCS so our choice of options on MSFS is huge while DCS is much less so.

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      1. PaperPilot Avatar
        PaperPilot

        I think this game needs more WWII aircraft in multiple variants. There isn’t much for the Normandy map or the Marianas either. For Normandy we would need planes like the Bf-109G (G-2 – G-14), Fw-190A (A-1 – A-8), Spitfire Mk.V (a – c) and Mk.IX (a – e); and the Hurricane, Typhoon, Tempest. We’d also need aircraft like the P-47D (early) and P-51B as well to make the Normandy map a more desirable map to use.

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      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        They certainly could use a few more European theatre types. Bf109G-6 was a version I was pulling for as it was by far the most numerous during the Normandy campaign. A Razorback P-47D, yes, that’d be great and the same with the P-51B.

        With the Spitfire IX there is only the IXc and the IXe. The ‘c’ and ‘e’ both have the same wing but different armament configurations (4x303cal and 2x20mm on the C, 2x50cal and 2x20mm on the E). You will see in some log books Spitfire IX.A and IX.B but these are not official designations and were used by squadron staff to denote the differences between the Merlin 61, 63 equipped Spitfire IX/IX-A (as they wrote it) and Merlin 66 equipped IX-B (as they wrote it). Officially the designation was F.IX and LF.IX but these came later than some logs (and the engine variants).

        Liked by 1 person

      3. PaperPilot Avatar
        PaperPilot

        Thanks for the info. Really appreciate it.

        I think it would be good if the DCS Germany map could have a WWII version, because it would give the Bf-109 K-4 and the upcoming La-7 a home. What do you think? Would you want to see a WWII Germany map?

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    3. Urgent Siesta Avatar
      Urgent Siesta

      It’s not that hard, actually – at least in the case of the Zero.

      There’s literally a flying example located in California, with the original engine, etc.

      There were also several captured during the war and the US prepared extensive reports on them, plus many pilot combat reports.

      And, as always, “CFD” is actually a thing for flight sim development these days, so as long as you have a relatively accurate model of the aircraft (including the wing airfoil information), it’s eminently do-able.

      The tough part, IMHO, has been that there isn’t the same amount of information about many of the OTHER Japanese aircraft, which led to developer hesitance in re those.

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